Page 9 - 1977 News Clippings

Ngaruawahia’s still Watery

leaking problem

Ngaruawahia’s Ministry of Works solved
borough engineer was workmen were searching
today recovering from a Ngaruawahia High June 1977
night spent trying to School grounds for a The Ngaruawahia leak
trace a mains leak that leak. problem has been solved.
is gulping away almost The pipe they were Last night a gang of six
91,000 litres of the tracing was at first workmen isolated the leaks
town’s water every thought to be connected causing the town’s water supply
hour. to Bernard Fergusson to disappear at 10,000 litres per
Engineer Mr R. B. Primary School, but hour since Wednesday.
Murphy, Mayor Francis when water to the high On Wednesday night
Barakat, and a gang of school was closed last borough engineer Mr R. B.
men last night shut off night water was still Murray led a team on a search for
water supply to sections running in the primary the leak’s source.
of the town in an effort to school. They failed to find it, but
trace the leak. The closure of any early this morning the men
Water was pumped leaks would help located areas thought to be
into each section at the maintain pressure at the causing the problem.
maximum pressure, water reservoir. Water was being pumped
159,250 litres per hour, “The reservoir is into Ngaruawahia’s reservoir at
and the sections were holding its own at the 35,000 litres per hour yesterday,
watched for loss of moment,” Mayor Barakat but was running away in the
pressure. said. “But all we are mains.
But the source of the really doing is pumping Today the reservoir had five
leak was not found. the water to the reservoir meters of water in it, and the
Two areas of the and losing it in the town was “holding its own.”
town were found to be mains.” Jim Hodges, an engineer
losing about 10,000 litres If the source of the with a private firm brought in to
per hour. leak was not found the solve the borough’s watery
Workmen were water could build up problem, said today he finished
today searching for the underground and either work at 4am.
source. erupt in a jet above “I think we’ve found at least
ground or undermine the one area where there could be
sub-surface. problems,” Mr Hodges said. “I
will be writing to the council
today, telling them what I think
the problems are, and how to
solve them.”
Ministry of Works plumbers
had isolated two leaks in the
Ngaruawahia High School
grounds yesterday.
These had been shut off and
would relieve many of the town’s
water supply problems.